Hudson River Park Pier 55

AKRF prepared a shadow study for the reopening of Pier 54 in Hudson River Park as a public space for general recreation and events. The proposed project would remove the pier platform from its existing location and build a new public access pier with a different overwater footprint, now known as Pier 55, where the 2.4-acre “Little Island” park designed by Thomas Heatherwick and funded by Barry Diller is under construction. Our assessment was conducted to determine the extent and duration of new shadows on the river and other nearby sun-sensitive resources and whether the new shadows could result in adverse impacts. AKRF concluded that the proposed pier would cast new shadows on portions of the surface of the Hudson River but they would not result in significant adverse impacts to aquatic ecology. We also supported landside transportation and civil engineering efforts for improved access to the park.

Newsworthy

Pier 55 will be home to a new public space named “Little Island” comprised of 132 mushroom-shaped concrete columns rise above the Hudson River.